"Sweden is a strong, capable defense partner that champions NATO's values, and will further strengthen the Alliance once its NATO accession is completed," the State Department said in a written statement. "Sweden's membership will strengthen our collective defense and enhance our ability to respond to security challenges in the Euro-Atlantic area."
Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said he was hopeful that accession would happen "as soon as possible", but would not give any estimate when Turkey and Hungary - the only two NATO members not to give Sweden the green light yet - would add their support.
(Reporting by Simon Johnson and Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Christina Fincher and Jacqueline Wong)
